| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Kenneth John Monkou | ||
| Date of birth | 29 November 1964 | ||
| Place of birth | Nickerie, Suriname | ||
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Playing position | Centre back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1985–1988 | Feyenoord | 43 | (2) |
| 1989–1992 | Chelsea | 94 | (2) |
| 1992–1999 | Southampton | 198 | (10) |
| 1999–2000 | Huddersfield Town | 21 | (1) |
| Total | 356 | (15) | |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:45, 7 January 2009. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Kenneth John "Ken" Monkou (born 29 November 1964 in Nickerie in Suriname) is a retired Dutch footballer who played in a defensive role.
Born in Suriname but raised in the Netherlands, Monkou's first major side was Feyenoord Rotterdam. He moved to England in May 1989 to sign for newly-promoted to the First Division Chelsea for £100,000. He was their first player from outside the Commonwealth since Willi Steffen in 1947. He made an impressive start for his new side, being voted club player of the year in his first season – the first black player to do so for Chelsea – as the team finished 5th in the First Division and won the Full Members Cup. He remained with Chelsea until 1992, when he was sold to Southampton for £750,000 just 3 months after signing a new 5 year contract with Chelsea.
Monkou's time with Southampton saw regular battles for Premier League survival, though the club were never actually relegated. In the 1993–94 season he scored a last minute winner in a 5–4 defeat of Norwich City from a Matt Le Tissier corner which helped the club to stay in the Premier League. He stayed on the South Coast until 1999, when he joined Huddersfield Town on a free transfer, scoring once against Yorkshire rivals Barnsley.[1] However, disagreements with Huddersfield manager Steve Bruce ensured his time with the club was short-lived. Monkou made a return to Chelsea during the 2002–2003 season, before finally retiring from the game
After his playing career, Monkou ran a pancake house in the Dutch city of Delft (2009), and is actively involved in Dutch media as well as making appearances on Chelsea TV.
Monkou's cousin is Arsenio Halfhuid and currently plays in the Aston Villa F.C. Reserves and Academy teams.[2]
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